Theresa Bluebird-1st Native American Woman to serve 25 years in US ARMY

I met her in the 80's at Marty Indian School, Marty, South Dakota on the Yankton Sioux Reservation, home of the Marty Braves.

I was attracted to her boldness and behavior. I was a big tall girl, awkward and overweight. On the first day of school, other students actually thought I was a new teacher. I also looked Caucasian in an all-Native American high school. I was also from a different region and different tribe.

Fortunately, I didn't have to sit alone at lunch too long as Theresa let me hang with her crew, Marian Bald Eagle, her best friend along with Jewel NewHoly, these girls were so mature but they were kind and funny. Somehow, we all became friends. We all came from something sad but we never talked too much about it.

Obviously, I may have been terrified but Theresa never let me. She said things like "If I were big like you, I would run this school!". I'd laugh but wondered if this was supposed to be instruction or a compliment? Instead, I preferred to believe she was trying to encourage me to be more brave.

Our crew seemed to be interested in drinking and we had a party in our dorm room. How or where we got the alcohol, I don't remember. Drinking among Native American people and youth is common but is a negative stereotype that we often just accept from others and even perpetrate ourselves by deploying self-destructive behavior that only reinforce stereotypes that aren't true and support the belief that we have no options or aspirations to better pathways in life.

Theresa was a junior but she had a baby already.

I remember her telling me that the mother of the father of her child said in a not so kind manner that her son "was going to be somebody".

We both came from backgrounds of alcoholism and poverty. It was common and acceptable to smoke and drink but doing so would have prevented us from doing well in any sport activity.

Theresa became more focused and joined track and cross country where she excelled and I joined basketball and did well also. Both of our interests and priorities changed. The competition was fierce and I had to be super tough as other athletes at our school were so talented and strong, so mature, so fierce. There are stories of unfairness and racism that we as Natives have had to endure then and today. We had to be brave and our kids have to be braver today.

After high school, she joined the military, the United States Army where she would be known as the first Native American woman to serve 25 complete full years of service. Today, her daughter does the same and is an exceptional parachuter. My daughter went to college and graduated from New York City, I got into law and have a Master's degree.

Native Americans have served and continue to serve in astounding numbers to all facets of the US military and their stories need to be told and recognized. I can only imagine the personal and cultural dichotomies they deal with from within and outside of their communities as they strive to achieve careers with the US militaries. There are so many great stories of success among our demographic and they need to be shared because our young people need hope and aspiration. Stories of hope and bravery.

Thank you Theresa Bluebird for encouraging me to be brave as a woman in everything I do in life. You truly influenced me to do better.

Thank you for your determination and perseverance.

This is why you are my and our Hometown Hero...

I